Post Game Notes

UGA Sports Communications

Stingy Defense Posts 3rd Shutout: The Dawgs (8-1, 5-1 SEC) blanked Missouri 27-0 including a goal-line stand in the fourth quarter. The Tigers turned it over on downs after going 76 yards on 17 plays in 7:05. Georgia came in leading the SEC in Red Zone Defense, allowing just four TDs and four field goals now in 13 trips. This was the third shutout of the year, which marks the first time since 1981 that Georgia has done that. This year, it’s been Ark. State, UK and Missouri.

Georgia started the day as the SEC leader in Total Defense (268.1 yds/game), Scoring Defense (11.4 pts/game) and Rushing Defense (77.6 yds/game). The Dawgs held Missouri scoreless in the first half and went into the locker room with a 16-0 edge. This marked the 21st scoreless quarter Georgia has held its opponents to this year and the eighth scoreless half (third scoreless first half) that the Dawg defense has held its opponents to in 2019.

​The Tigers totaled 198 yards on 58 plays, including just 50 yards rushing. Missouri was 1-of-7 on third downs in the first half and finished 4-for-14. Also of note, the Dawgs remain the only FBS team in the nation not to surrender a rushing touchdown. Senior Tae Crowder led Dawg tacklers with seven stops.

Offense Tallies 339 Yards on 67 Plays For 27 Points: Georgia scored the most points (27) since the Dawgs thrashed Tennessee 43-14 in Knoxville, Tenn. The Dawgs scored a touchdown and three field goals (20, 48, 47 yards) to take their 16-0 halftime lead. Behind 13-of-29 passing for 173 yards and two touchdowns to freshman George Pickens and a two-point conversion to sophomore James Cook from junior quarter Jake Fromm. Junior TB D’Andre Swift had 12 carries for 83 yards, including a 47-yard run to start the third quarter. Graduate WR Lawrence Cager finished with six catches and 93 yards before going out with a shoulder injury. Pickens finished with five catches for 67 yards and a career high two scores.

After a game that saw the Dawgs convert 12-of-18 third downs in the win over #6 Florida, Georgia went 8-for-18 against the Tigers. On the opening Georgia drive, Fromm connected with Lawrence Cager for a 32-yard gain on a 3rd-and-6 situation. Later in the drive, Fromm sent a 25-yard rocket to George Pickens on a 3rd-and-11 situation for Pickens’ third touchdown catch of the year.

Special Specialists: Graduate PK Rodrigo Blankenship connected on two PATs and then kicked four field goals (20, 48, 47 and 29-yards) to tie his career high (2016 @ Kentucky, 2017 vs. Missouri). He has now connected on a school record 187 consecutive PATs and is No. 2 in the SEC all-time record books by 11 kicks. Blankenship has 403 points in his career, which ranks fourth in school history and fifth in SEC history. He is 20-for-28 from 40-49 yards in his career and 5-for-7 from that distance in 2019. Freshman Dominick Blaylock started the Dawg's first possession with an 18-yard punt return. This set up the Dawg's six-play, 60-yard scoring drive that was the game’s first touchdown. He added another 16-yard return in the third quarter that set up a field goal.

Series History: Georgia now has won six in a row over Missouri and leads the all-time series 8-1. This was the third shutout in the series (1960 Orange Bowl 14-0; 34-0 in 2014 in Columbia).

Turnovers: Richard LeCounte had his second interception of the year and third of his career and returned it 71 yards to the Missouri 18. Georgia’s sixth pick of the year marked the longest INT return for the Dawgs since Dominick Sanders went 88 yards for a touchdown at Vanderbilt. Rodrigo Blankenship kicked a 48-yard field goal on the next possession. Georgia is +2 in turnover margin. The Dawgs have scored 33 points off 10 turnovers while opponents have scored 21 points off eight Georgia miscues.

For Starters: Jake Fromm started his 37th straight to lead the offense while graduate S J.R. Reed now leads the defense with 38 in a row. After missing five games with a foot injury, sophomore DB Tyson Campbell returned to action on special teams and on defense.

Injury Report: Sophomore C Trey Hill went down in the first quarter with a left ankle injury. Sophomore Cade Mays moved over from RG to C after the injury and junior Ben Cleveland filled in at RG. Later in the game, Mays went down and sophomore Jamaree Salyer filled in at C. Lawrence Cager injured his left shoulder at the end of the first half and did not return.

Captains: Junior TB D’Andre Swift, senior ILB Tae Crowder and junior LG Solomon Kindley served as captains.

Up Next: Georgia (8-1, 5-1 SEC) faces Auburn (7-2, 4-2 SEC) on the Plains next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.